The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Centre in Gland, Switzerland is one of the greenest office buildings in Europe. The LafargeHolcim Foundation published a monograph on this exemplary sustainable construction in English and French. This book in the Foundation’s monographic series of exemplary sustainable design has been translated by the Chinese National Commission of UNESCO and is available in a free digital version. 

The design illustrates how progressive ideas on energy use in buildings can be implemented – whilst also delivering in terms of both fiscal and philosophical economy of means. Advancing the notion of green building, the IUCN Conservation Centre distinguishes between energy consumption and emissions. With zero-emission energy sources, the emphasis shifted from energy efficiency at any cost towards achieving a higher level of architectural quality, placing greater attention on daylighting and high-quality furniture and fittings throughout interior spaces.

LafargeHolcim and Holcim Switzerland supported the construction of the IUCN Conservation Centre through substantial financial and in-kind donations including CO2-reduced cement; standard, recycled, and insulating concrete; and associated technical services.

IUCN Conservation Centre in Gland, Switzerland (Chinese) (PDF, 21.98 MB)